Salvación by Sandra Proudman
316p. Grades 8+
Historical drama meets magical realism in this action-packed retelling of the Zorro legend. Lola de la Peña, with her parents and brother Victor, are the central family in their small mining community of Coloma in 19th century Alta California. Lola's mother's spiritual calling is to heal people using sal negra, a magical substance that's mined in Coloma. Sal negra cures any injury or malady, and people from the surrounding areas come to be healed by Mamá. But the stories of miraculous healing draw too much attention, including white men who intend to take the resource by force as they colonize Alta California, an Indigenous Nisenan territory recently ceded by Mexico to U.S. control. As Coloma grows more dangerous, Lola and Víctor team up to protect the people. Despite her parents' strong disapproval, Lola disguises herself as a masked woman vigilante known as Salvación.
When a caravan of armed men arrive in town, led by the charismatic Señor Hernández, everything begins to change. Hernández promises the townspeople, and Lola's parents, that he will lead them to reclaim Alta California for Mexico. It doesn't take long for Lola and Victor to realize this man is a monster, who cuts down any and all who oppose him using another magical substance of this place, sal roja. Sal roja destroys anything and everything it touches, literally eating away flesh and soil. Without the support of her parents or her community, can Lola and Victor find a way to stop Hernández and his men?
Check out other Teen Picks of the Month!
Every month the SCCLD Teen Librarians choose one book as a great read from the library's Teen collection. This is the list of the latest picks of the month.
